When Strength Turns Against Itself: Masculinity and Moral Disintegration in R. K. Narayan’s The Man-Eater of Malgudi

Abstract

The representation of masculinity in Indian English fiction has undergone a significant shift from colonial and Westernized ideals of dominance and physical power toward ethically grounded models rooted in restraint, responsibility, and moral self-awareness. R. K. Narayan’s The Man-Eater of Malgudi (1961) offers a compelling critique of aggressive and hegemonic masculinity through the character of Vasu, whose obsession with power, violence, and self-assertion destabilizes both individual morality and social harmony. In sharp contrast, the novel presents Nataraj as a figure of ethical masculinity, whose patience, non-violence, and moral endurance function as an alternative paradigm of strength.

This paper undertakes an extensive critical analysis of masculinity in The Man-Eater of Malgudi by engaging with theories of hegemonic masculinity, Gandhian ethics, and postcolonial cultural discourse. It argues that Narayan deliberately exposes the hollowness and self-destructive nature of violent masculinity while redefining strength as ethical self-restraint and social responsibility. By situating the novel within the cultural milieu of Malgudi, the study demonstrates how Narayan critiques imported models of masculine power and foregrounds an indigenous moral vision rooted in coexistence, balance, and humility. The paper further establishes the contemporary relevance of Narayan’s vision in the context of ongoing global debates on toxic masculinity and ethical leadership.